What is the Difference Between Syndrome and Disease?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a syndrome and a disease lies in their definitions and the way they are characterized:
- Syndrome: A syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that are known to go together but don't have a clear cause, course, or treatment path. It refers to a collection of recognizable traits or abnormalities that tend to occur together. A syndrome is not a disease; it is a collection of findings that you tend to see in a number of individuals who otherwise appear healthy. Treatment of a syndrome is mainly symptomatic.
- Disease: A disease refers to an established condition that affects how your body functions and is more likely to have a known cause, a distinct course, and established treatments. It is a health condition that has a clearly defined reason behind it. A disease can be caused by various factors, such as pathogens, heredity, physiological issues, or deficiencies.
In summary, a syndrome is a group of symptoms without an identifiable cause, while a disease is a disorder with a known cause and a distinct course. Treatment for a syndrome is mainly symptomatic, whereas the underlying cause of a disease is typically treated.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Syndrome and Disease? Comparative Table: Syndrome vs Disease
Comparative Table: Syndrome vs Disease
Here is a table comparing the differences between a syndrome and a disease:
| Feature | Syndrome | Disease |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A syndrome is a collection of recognizable traits or abnormalities that tend to occur together. A disease is a disruption to regular bodily structure and function. | |
| Cause | Syndromes may produce a number of symptoms without an identifiable cause. Diseases have an established biological cause behind the condition. | |
| Symptoms | A syndrome refers to a group of symptoms. A disease has a defined group of symptoms. | |
| Anatomical Change | A syndrome does not have a consistent change in anatomy due to the condition. A disease results in a consistent change in anatomy due to the condition. | |
| Examples | Down syndrome, which is a genetic defect that is present at birth and not considered an illness in the proper sense. Diabetes, which has a known cause (insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production) and specific symptoms (elevated blood sugar levels, frequent urination, increased thirst, and hunger). |
In summary, a syndrome is a collection of symptoms or traits that occur together without a clear cause, while a disease has a known cause, specific symptoms, and anatomical changes due to the condition.
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- Symptom vs Syndrome
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- Disease vs Illness
- Condition vs Disease
- Disease vs Condition
- Infection vs Disease
- Cushings Disease vs Cushings Syndrome
- Problem vs Symptom
- Contagious Disease vs Infectious Disease
- Sick vs Ill
- Disorder vs Disability
- Metabolic Syndrome vs Diabetes
- Diagnosis vs Prognosis
- Mental Illness vs Mental Disorder
- Genetic Disorders vs Polygenic Diseases
- Pathophysiology vs Pathogenesis
- Lyme Disease vs Lupus
- Mental Illness vs Neurological Disorder
- Communicable vs Non-Communicable Diseases